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Bath deny breaching Premiership salary cap

Bath have released a statement to clarify that they did not breach the Premiership Salary Cap last season.

The West Country-based club said they only used £4.71m of the £4.76m salary cap last season and reassured their fans that they will also be within it again during the 2015/16 season.

The statement, however, does not mention whether they were one of two clubs – along with Saracens – who were investigated over potential breaches earlier this year.

Bath's statement read: "Bath Rugby can confirm the Club was within the salary cap for the 2014/15 season. The cap for the 2014/15 season was £4.76m before allowances and credits.

"Bath Rugby’s salary cap spend was £4.71m during that period. Bath Rugby can also reassure supporters that the Club’s spend will be within the salary cap for the 2015/2016 season.

"The Club is committed to spending up to the cap to provide the best squad possible. We have one of the smaller squads in the Premiership, which comprised 36 senior players including 14 international players in the 2014/15 season.

"Bath Rugby would also like to clarify its position regarding the salary cap debate. English clubs have been significantly disadvantaged both within domestic and European competitions.

"The clubs representing England in Europe have been expected to compete with European clubs, who have a spend of up to 100% more on their squads.

"These same English clubs also lose international players for one third of the domestic season with no cap relief. This system was inherently unfair, open to challenge and was in need of fundamental change.

"The new Salary Framework, voted and approved unanimously by the shareholders of Premiership Rugby (PRL) last week, enables clubs to recruit cover for players called up for international fixtures, provides funding for clubs to compete equally with European clubs, provides enhanced incentives for the development of young English players, and simplifies the administration of the system.

"The new defined salary framework is a much fairer system for all clubs. It will provide increased investment for all the clubs, funded 100% from central income.

"It will allow Premiership clubs to compete on a fairer playing field both domestically and in Europe and it will promote the production and development of English talent."